Previous definitions:
1.
The physical (not chemical) process of separating components of a liquid, by heating it to the point of evaporation. The evaporation is collected and cooled, resulting in a purer and/or more concentrated form. Examples are distillation of alcohol (which has a lower boiling point than water and therefore evaporates first), and sea water (water is evaporated and salt is left).
As defined by Mechanical Turk
on August 18, 2011
